Toxic Free NC - Fact Sheets

Pesticides Commonly Used on Christmas Trees
A Fact Sheet from Toxic Free NC

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Christmas trees are a valuable resource for the state of North Carolina as well as the rest of the nation, significantly contributing to state and federal economies. Christmas trees are an especially important crop in the mountains of western North Carolina. As large producers are moving into North Carolina, Christmas tree farms are expanding from what were previously small family-owned stands into large plantations.

Christmas trees can be a chemical-intensive crop, because they require several applications of insect-killers, weed-killers and other types of pesticides every year, throughout their long life cycle. If you live near a Christmas tree-growing area, you may be exposed to these chemicals through drift or runoff. Chemicals that may be applied aerially in North Carolina are followed by this symbol: *
However, aerial application of pesticides to Christmas trees is not common. You can find more information about these pesticides, including effects on human health and the environment, from the sources listed below.

Season	Chemical Name	Brand Names	Chemical Class	Uses	Information
Jan-Jun	Disulfoton	Di-Syston	Organophosphate	Fungicide, Insecticide, Miticide	1, 4, 6
Jan-Jun	Oxyfluorfen	Goal, Oxiflo, Showcase	Diphenyl ether	Herbicide *	4
Nov-Jun	Chlorpyrifos	Chlorpyrifos, Dow Agrosciences Lorsban, Drexel Clorpyrifos, Lorsban, Micro-Flo Chlorpyrifos, Nufos 4E, Pilot, Warhawk, Whirlwind	Organophosphate	Insecticide, Miticide, Fungicide *	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Jul-Oct	Sethoxydim	Arrest, Sethoxydim G-Pro Herbicide	Cyclohexenone derivative	Herbicide	4
All Year	Esfenvalerate	Asana	Pyrethroid	Insecticide, Miticide	4
All Year	Glyphosate	Extra Credit, Touchdown	Phosphonoglycine	Herbicide	2, 3, 4, 5, 7
All Year	Simazine	Simazat, Princep, Regal Wynstar	Triazine	Herbicide, Algaecide	4

Note: *aerial application of pesticides to Christmas trees

Where to find more information about pesticide hazards

The following are different sources of information about how pesticides may affect human health and the environment. Internet addresses and contact information are provided for all sources, however we can also provide you with free copies of most of this information. Call toll-free: 1-877-NO SPRAY or email to request copies.

Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisoning (book) by Reigart & Roberts, 5th edition (1999), U.S. EPA. This is an excellent handbook for health care providers. Note that information about pesticides is grouped by chemical class, not by the pesticide name or active ingredient. Available free, in Spanish or English, from the US EPA by calling (703) 305-7666, or online at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/safety/healthcare/handbook/handbook.htm.
Pesticide Fact Sheets (articles) from NCAP, published in the Journal of Pesticide Reform (magazine). Available by calling (541) 344-5044 or online at: http://www.pesticide.org/factsheets.html. These are in-depth articles about pesticide active ingredients, and they cover environmental as well as health effects. Free on the web; $4 to $6 each if sent by mail.
Chemical Watch Fact Sheets (articles) from Beyond Pesticides. Available free by calling (202) 543-5450 or online at: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/index.htm. These are two- to three-page articles about pesticide active ingredients that cover both environmental and human health effects.
PAN Pesticides Database (website) from Pesticide Action Network. This is a searchable database that provides current toxicity and regulatory information for almost all pesticides. Search by product name or chemical name. Available only on the web: http://www.pesticideinfo.org. The PAN database also includes a Pesticide Poisoning Diagnostic Tool designed to help healthcare providers recognize, manage and report pesticide-related
illnesses. It can help identify a pesticide or class of pesticides that may be responsible for a pesticide-related illness. This resource also provides information for reporting a known or suspected pesticide poisoning: http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Search_Poisoning.jsp.
NPIC Fact Sheets (website) from the National Pesticide Information Center (sponsored by Oregon State University and EPA). NPIC’s Fact Sheets provide basic information for consumers about various pesticide products, which are listed by active ingredient on the website: http://npic.orst.edu/npicfact.htm. The fact sheets are written in simple language and are easy for most people to understand. NPIC also maintains a toll-free telephone service for pesticide information (1-800- 858-7378), and lists emergency treatment information for humans and animals.
ToxFAQ’s (website) from the US Centers for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. These are short summaries of basic health information about many contaminants that are commonly found at hazardous waste sites, including some pesticides.These are written in simple language and are easy for most people to understand; many are also in Spanish. Only available on the website: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html.
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets (website) from the New Jersey Department of Health. These are summaries of health information about many environmental contaminants, including some pesticides. They are designed for people who are exposed to these chemicals at work, and they are written in simple language and are easy for most people to understand. Available in English and in Spanish on the website: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/rtkhsfs.htm For free copies of many of these resources, contact Toxic Free NC toll-free at 1-877-NO SPRAY or by email.